Vital relegation win for Skins

Editorial Department • Published 21 Jan 2010 09:27 0 Comments

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Coleraine First XV attack the Enniskillen line during Saturday's game at Sandel Lodge.

Coleraine 1st XV 3; Enniskillen 1st XV 16;

Enniskillen moved out of the automatic relegation places in Qualifying One with a vital win over fellow strugglers Coleraine that earned them four vital points. Indeed, a late Gavin Warrington try ensured that Coleraine did not even pick up a losing bonus point as Skins did their survival hopes a power of good.

The win will give Skins renewed hope for a good end to the campaign and they will now tackle Portadown 2nd XV in the Towns' Cup at Mullaghmeen on Saturday with an extra step to their game. As befitted two teams locked together on points at the wrong end of the table, the match was closely fought with little between the teams for the majority of the game.

The opening was very tentative with both sides probing without breaking through each other's defensive line. Skins looked to be slightly edging the territorial battle and Keith Hurst chipped over the first of his three penalties after 11 minutes.

The game had settled into an attritional battle and, following a fumble, Coleraine managed to level the game up at 3 a-piece after 20 minutes, and that's how things stayed unitl half-time.

Coleraine came out of the blocks with all guns blazing at the start of the second period and enjoyed almost complete dominance for the opening ten minutes or so, but despite losing prop Darren Watson to a yellow card in the opening exchanges, Skins did well to hold out the hosts, who never really came close to threatening the try line.

Skins weathered the storm and managed to get things back on an even keel before Hurst regained the lead after 25 minutes with his second penalty, and then extended the lead to six points with five minutes to go.

The game was set up for a nervy final few minutes for the Enniskillen faithful who had made the journey north, but it never materialised as Coleraine showed no signs of breaking through and indeed it was Skins who settled the match with the last action when Gavin Warrington crossed the line for the game's only try to deny the hosts even a losing bonus point. Hurst again was successful with the kick to end the scoring at 16-3.

Team: G Warrington, R Cathcart, D Watson (G Beatty), M O'Callaghan, J Carleton, D Buchanan, G Hall (capt), J Courtney, R Connor, K Hurst, C Dickey, A Wilkinson (J van Biljon), M Law, A Duncan, M O'Shea.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 21 Jan 10

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